Raised rung agility ladder

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an agility ladder that possess raised rungs, allowing users to not only exercise their stamina and agility, but also increase the strength of their calf muscles and related lower leg muscular structure.

The present invention relates to an agility ladder that possess raised rungs, allowing users to not only exercise their stamina and agility, but also increase the strength of their calf muscles and related lower leg muscular structure.

BACKGROUND ART

The use of agility ladders has become a regular training method for athletes. Agility ladders allow users to practice jumping, shuffling, side-stepping, hopping, running through and running around, with the agility ladder serving as a focal point of exercising. Traditional agility ladders consist of a rope or fiber with plastic or metal parts serving as ladder rungs. Present style agility ladders are shown with the ladder rungs being primarily flat. In use, the ladders are laid on the ground, and then athletes begin exercising. While present ladders with flat rungs are suitable for enhancing lateral range of motion and speed of lower extremities, present ladders do not provide a sufficient means for strengthening lower extremities.

The calf muscles on human beings consist of two large muscles and attach to the heel via the achilles tendon. When subject to quick or rapid movement, or even prolonged use, the calf muscles are subject to injury. Various exercises are suggested to improve the strength of the calf muscles in order to reduce chance of injury, including Springs, Calf raises on the platform, Tiptoe walking, and Stair walking. Usually, athletes are required to devote part of their workout to speed and agility, and another part of their workout to calf strengthening. The use of at least two different devices requires more time by athletes when performing their workout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has as its goal to provide an exercise device that will allow a user to exercise speed and agility, as well as being able to strengthen calf muscles, through the use of one agility ladder. The present invention accomplishes this goal by implementing raised implements as its rungs, in comparison to more flat rungs as used in the prior art. The raised rungs of the present agility ladder thus provide users the ability to perform a number of calf strengthening exercises.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 of the present invention shows the general design of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention, whereby raised rungs are shown;

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the raised rungs stacked upon one another;

FIG. 4 shows the present invention in use.

It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the FIGs herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations in addition to the described example embodiments. Thus, the following more detailed description of the example embodiments, as represented in the FIGs, is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments, as claimed, but is merely representative of example embodiments.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obfuscation. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain example embodiments.

As used herein, the term “agility ladder” shall refer to a device having two parallel supports separated by perpendicular positioned implements; The term “rung” shall refer to a perpendicular positioned implement, compared with the parallel supports, wherein the rung can be made of a variety of materials such as textile, plastic, or metal; The term “exercise” shall refer to a physical undertaking that is designed to result in an improvement of the performance of one performing the undertaking.

Description of the Invention with Reference to the Drawings With reference to the FIGs, FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the exercise device 100 includes at least two parallel rails 103. The rails 103 can be made of a variety of materials, such as fabric, including synthetic or natural fabric, wire, polymer, or metal. If fabric is used, the fabric can be or comprise a polymeric fabric, such as nylon, heavy-duty nylon, ballistic nylon, coated nylon, polyester, elastane, latex, or combination thereof. In the event a wire is used, the wire can be made from one continuous steel wire. The wire can also be high-carbon steel wire, and be made of stainless steel, or wire coated with zinc.

The rails 103 are preferably separated by a plurality of substantially rigid, elongated, rungs 105. The rungs 105 are preferably evenly spaced apart. In one embodiment, the rungs 105 are spaced from 15 inches to 24 inches apart. In a preferred embodiment, the rungs 105 are spaced from 20 inches to 22 inches apart. To be discussed later, the rungs 105 possess a thickness such that the top of a rung 105 is from 2 inches to 4 inches from the ground. The thickness of the rungs 105 allow a user to strengthen calf muscle by creating a range of movement between the heel of a user and the ground. The range of movement is vertical, wherein the user can raise the heel through the use of his “toes” or posterior part of the foot.

The exercise device 100 further includes bracing means 107, preferably at the front of the each end of the rail. The bracing means 107 can be a hole, or a spike, whereby when set upon the ground, the bracing means 107 stops the device 100 from being moved when in use.

In use, the exercise device 100 is laid upon the ground or on a training surface such as turf or grass. The agility ladder can also be raised off the ground by being set on stakes or vertical supports.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the exercise device 200, whereby the thickness of the rungs 201 are shown. As stated previously, when positioned on the ground or a surface, the user will interact not only with the rungs per se but also the thickness of the rungs 201. Interacting with the thickness can include placing the posterior part of the foot on the rung 201 and creating a range of movement between the users heel and the ground, thus exercise and increasing the strength of the user's calf muscle. In one embodiment, the thickness of the rung 201 is between 1 inch to 2 inches. The rungs 201 are spaced between the rails 203. In a preferred embodiment, the rungs are evenly spaced between the rails 203, for example from 18 inches to 22 inches in distance apart.

FIG. 3 is a stacked view of the exercise device 300. In this embodiment, in the event a fabric is used as the rails 303, the device 300 allows the rungs 301 to be stacked upon each other. Such as stackable means allows the device to be easily stored.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment showing the exercise device 401 in use. As shown, a user will firstly lay the device 401 on a surface, such as grass or turf. The user can then practice both agility exercises, such as running around the device 401 or jumping over the rungs 403. In the event the user desires to implement exercises that may strengthen her calf muscles, she can position the posterior part of the foot on the rung 403 and create a range of vertical movement between the user's heel and the surface.

Although various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. The present invention includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims. 

1. An agility ladder exercise device comprising: an uppermost rung; a lowermost rung, and a plurality of intermediate rungs; and at least two parallel rails attaching to and connecting the rungs wherein the rails are separated by a plurality of substantially rigid, thick, elongated rungs that are evenly spaced out.
 2. The agility ladder of claim 1 wherein the rails are made of a variety of materials, including synthetic and natural fabric, wire, polymer or metal.
 3. The agility ladder of claim 2 wherein the rungs are spaced from 15 inches to 24 inches apart.
 4. The agility ladder of claim 2 wherein the rungs are spaced from 18 inches to 22 inches apart.
 5. The agility ladder of claim 2 wherein the rungs are spaced from 20 inches to 22 inches apart.
 6. The agility ladder of claim 1 wherein the top of the rung is from 2 inches to 4 inches from the ground.
 7. The agility ladder of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the rung is between 1 inch to 2 inches.
 8. The agility ladder of claim 1 wherein the device comprises a bracing means for stopping the device from being moved when used.
 9. The agility ladder of claim 8 wherein the bracing means is positioned at the front of the each end of the rail.
 10. The agility ladder of claim 8 wherein the bracing means is a hole.
 11. The agility ladder of claim 8 wherein the bracing means is a spike.
 12. The agility ladder of claim 1 wherein the rungs are stacked upon each other. 